Track-cleaner.



2 sheets-shut '1.

l mnwtoz flor/WML Patented Oct. 23, |900. E SARVER TRACKCLEANER.

(App) atwnledl' n. 20 1900\ (No Model.)

@vih/mames Patented Det. 23, |900.

E. SARYER.

TRACK CLEANER. Application med In. 2o, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Wmme@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD SARVER, OF DEADWOOD, SOUTH DAKOTA.

TRAC K-C LEAN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,465, dated October 23, 1900.

` Application filed January 20, 1900. Serial No. 2,200. (No model.)

of the rails of the track, whereby the engine-V wheels and the wheels of the train are not interfered with, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and more particularly referred to in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of atrack-cleaner embodying my invention on line l l of Fig. 3, showing the frame in side elevation and the outer chute in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the framework of my machine, showing a part of the operating mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 3 is a transverse vert-ical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. et is a detached side elevation of the depending brackets of the main frame and a portion of the main frame to which the brack-` ets are suitably bolted. Fig. 5 is a detached enlarged side elevation of one group of the cutters.

In the operation of railroads it is found that in the winter the snow falling upon the tracks is packed by the wheels of the passing trains until it finally becomes what is termed by engineers ice and which seriously interferes with the hauling of trains, owing to the fact that the packed snow or ice holds the engine driving-wheels off of the rail, causing them to slip, and also causes the heavy pulling of the train from the same cause. Many forms of plows have been used for the purpose of removing this packed snow or ice; but it is found that they must be run at a high rate of speed in order to get the removed ice away from the track, and it is also found that when the packed snow or ice is very hard the ordinary plow will not stay down to the track, making it very dangerous to plow ice by either a fast or slow process without the wrecking of the plow.

The object of my invention is provide a track-cleanerin which rotary cutters are situated at opposite sides of each track and adapted to cut the snow and ice from both sides of the rail and to remove it to one side of the track, whether the train is running backward or forward and whether the machine is connected with an engine or with some other carv and whether or not il' is connected in front or behind the car.

The object of my invention also relates to details of construction whereby certain operations are possible, all of which will be particularl y referred to in the following description.

Referring now to the drawings, A represents anv ordinary car, B the supporting-axle at one end of the car, and Cthe wheels which are connected with the said axle.

My invention is driven by the supportingaxle B, and for this purpose the axle is provided with a sprocketwheel D, the said sprocket-wheel preferably being of such a construction as to enable it to be attached to and detached from the axle. As an attachable and detachable sprocket-wheel is not new, and as any desired form may be used without in any manner affecting my invention, I have neither shown nor will I describe any form of detachable sprocket-wheel, as its specific construction forms no part of my present invention.

The frame E of my machine consists of a,

pluralityof longitudinally-extending parallel bars a and b, the former being the outside bars and the latter the inside bars. The inside bars at their outer ends and also the outside bars are connected by means of a suitable transversely-extending bar c, and the inner ends of the outer bars a are connected by a transversely-extending bar d. The inner ends of the inner bars b are connected with the transverse bar CZ, though this specific arrangement of connecting the bars may be varied without in any manner affecting my invention.

Journaled in suitable boxes upon the two parallelinside bars b,intermediate their ends, is a shaft F, which carries a sprocket-wheel G, and passing around the sprocket-wheel Gr and the sprocket-wheel D upon the car-axle B is a suitable sprocket-chain H, and by means of which power is transmitted from IOC the car-axle B to the shaft F. Situated loosely upon the shaft F is a gear-wheel I, which meshes with a pinion e, rigidly secured to a cutter-shaft J, whereby power is transmitted to the car-axle through the medium of the mechanism just described. A sliding sleeve K is suitably keyed to the shaft F, and connected with this sleeve K are suitable links L, the opposite and outer ends of the links being pivotally connected with friction-shoes M, vwhich are adapted to engage the inner wall of the laterally-extending periphery Nof the gear-wheel l, whereby the gear-wheel has a frictional connection with the shaft Fand by means of which the cutters (to be presently described) carried by lthe shaft J may be readily thrown in and out of operation.

The sleeve K is moved endwise upon the shaft F for the purpose of throwing the friction-shoes into and out of operative position with the gear-wheel I by means of an intermediately-pivoted lever P, suitably pivotally supported by transverse bar Q, the opposite or inner end of the lever P being connected with the lower end of a ratchet-lever R, by means of which the friction-clutch is readily controlled. This friction-clutch beingof the ordinary or any other desired construction is well understood by those skilled in the art and need not be more speeilically referred to herein.

Depending from the inner and outer longitudinally-extending bars a and b at their outer portions are the essentially U-shaped brackets S, having their lower portions made preferably in a horizontal form, as shown at f, and which carry the blocks g. Adjustably supported upon these blocks g are the bearings h for the cutter-shaft J. The adjustment of this shaft is controlled by means of the screw-bolts t' and nuts j, by means of which the cutter-shaft J may be raised or lowered, and thus regulate the relative cutting depth of the cutters, as will more fully appear hereinafter.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the brackets S are situated directly over the railroad-rails T, that the cutter-shaft J has its ends extending beyond the outer sides of the rails sutliciently to receive the outer set of cutters 2 for the purpose of cutting the snow and ice from the outer side of the rail, and that the inner sets of cutters 3 are situated at and adjacent the inner side of the railroad-rails and serve to cut the ice and snow from the inner side thereof. The specific construction of the cutters will be referredto presently.

The machine is supported by means of a suitable truck, and this truck consists of horizontal bars 4, which are suitably connected to the under side of the lower end of the brackets S and are provided with the supporting-Wheels 5, the said supporting-wheels adapted to engage and rest upon the railroadrails and being flanged, the same as an ordinary car-wheel, for the purpose of keeping the cutting apparatus in proper position upon the track. It will be noticed that this truckframe extends in front of and also behind the cutting apparatus, (by reference to FigjL) and extending in front of the front wheels 5 and in rear of the rear wheels 5 are the steel brushes 6 for the purpose of removing` the loose snow and ice from the track in front of the ear-wheels.

By reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that my cutter consists of a plurality of bars m, which have a straight central portion and laterally-turned ends n, the extremity of the ends of the cutter-bars m being forked, as shown at r, whereby oppositel)7 (forwardly and rearwardly) extending cutting edges are provided for enabling the cutter to work in both directions. These cutter-bars are secured to the cutter-shaft J by means of bolts s, which pass transversely through the cutter-bars adjacent the shaft J, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. These cutters being placed side by side, as shown upon the shaft J, serve to effectively cut the ice and snow which is packed at opposite sides of the railroad-track. Preferably l use for each cutter eight bars, side by side, making in all sixteen cuttingteeth, and these are so situated that only four of the teeth are cutting, which enables the cutter to work with less friction and less power than would otherwise be required. By means of the vertically-adjustable journals h before referred to the cutter-shaft, and consequently theeutter, can be regulated to cutthe desired depth, as will be readily linderstood.

For the purpose of removing the ice and snow to one side of the railroad-track l provide for each set of cutters a chute, and these chutes are situated in front of and behind the cutters. The front chutes 7`are adapted to receive the snow and ice which is cut when the machine is moving forward, and the cutter forces the snow and ice through the chute and out its upper outwardly-extending end 8` to one side of the railroad-track. These upwardly-extending ends may be of any desired length and are hinged to the upper ends of the chutes 7 by means of suitable bolts 9, and the upper free ends of the upper ends 8 of the chutes are connected by means of a bar vl0, and the bolts 9y serve to enable the upper pivoted ends of the chutes to beheld with suflieient friction to remain in their adjusted positions. Fig. 3' that I provide a chute for the cutters which are situated outside of the rail and a separate chute for the cutters which are situated at the inner side of the rail, whereby the operation of one cutter and the forcing of the cut snow and ice through its respective chute is entirely independent of and uninterrupted by the action of the outer cutter. Another set of chutes l2 are situated at the rear sides of the cutters and are exactly the same as the forward chutes 7 and arranged in exactly thesame way. These chutes Z and l2 are suit- IOS.

It will be noted by reference to ably connected with and supported by the inclined upper portion of the U -shaped brackets S, and the rear chutes are preferably removable from the machine by means of suitable bolts 13, whereby when the lnachine is not in operation it is drawn upward against the adjacent end of the car (as will be explained more fully hereinafter) for the purpose of being out of the way. The space between the front and rear chutes 7 and 12 is spanned by a suitable top or bridge 15, whereby the snow and ice is all forced through the chutes.

By means of the driving mechanism heretofore described when the car is moving forward the cutter-shaft J'is revolving in the opposite direction to the revolution of the carshaft B, and in this way the snow and ice are forced through the forward chutes 7. When the machine is moved backward, the direction of revolution of the cutter-shaft J is reversed, and the snow and ice are forced through the rear chute 12.

The front end of the apparatus or the apparatus proper may be said to be supported by the truck before explained, and the rear end of the frame is pivotally connected with the truck of the car by means of forwardlyextending bars 17 and 18, to the forward ends of which the rear ends of the outer bars t are hinged, as shown at 19. In this way the apparatus is hinged to the car-truck, but pushed forward thereby, and is thus adapted to be raised or lowered for the purpose of passing over a frog or overa crossing of any kind and is also adapted to be raised upward and to rest against the front side of the car when not in operation. The means for lifting the apparatus for crossing frogs and other crossings consists of a bar 20, which has its rear end inserted into the coupling-head 21 and held by means of the usual pin 22. Pivotally connected to the outer end of this bar 20 is an Lshaped lever 22", the lower end of which is connected with the outer end of the framework of the machine by means of a link or rod 23. From this description it will be seen that the apparatus may be lifted upon its hinged joints 19 by a rearward pull upon the upper end of the L-shaped lever 22', and for the purpose of bringing this lever within ready reach of an operator standing upon the front or adjacent end of the car a rope 24 is connected to the said lever and extends to the front of the car for operation.

Vhen it is desired to turn the apparatus up against the front end of the car-as, for instance, when it is not in operationthe bar 2O is removed and also the rear chutes 12 and the apparatus is then lifted in an upright position against the end of the car, as will be readily understood, the chain H becoming loose and preferably removed and hooked upon a suitable support.

Attention is directed to the specific construction of the lower ends of the front chutes 7 and of the rear chutes 12. This specific construction consists of vertically-adjustable lower` ends 25, which have their upwardlyextending portions 26 (see Fig. l) extending within the chutes andprovided with vertical slots 27, through which bolts 28 pass and by means of which the said ends 25 are permitted to raise and lower. These lower ends 25 are turned upward in the form of a sleighrunner, as clearly illustrated, whereby they will slide up upon the snow or ice as may be required in the passage ofthe machine. For instance, when the machine is moving forward the forward lower end 25 of the front chutes 7 will move upward and slide over the packed snow and ice, thus forminga continut ous chute from the snow and ice for the passage of that which is being removed, and the lower ends of the rear chutes will be at the bottom of the cut trench. When the machine is moving rearward, (or in the opposite direction,) the lower ends of the rear chutes 12 will move upward and slide over the packed snow and ice, while the lower ends of the forward chutes 7 will fall down into y the cut trench. In this way the lower ends of the chutes will move up and down and accommodate themselves to the depth of the snow and ice which lies at opposite sides of the railroad-rail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a track-cleaner the combination of a car-truck, its shaft and its supporting-wheels, of forwardly-extending bars connected with the said truck, a cut-ting mechanism including a supporting-frame pivoted at its rear end to the forwardly-extending bars, a cutting mechanism carried by the said frame, operative connections between the car and axleshaft and the cutting mechanism, a detachable forward ly-extending supporting-bar connected at its rear end to the car, anda liftinglever connected to the outer end of the supporting-bar and in turn connected with the forward end of the said hinged cutter-supporting frame, substantially as described.

2. A track-cleaner comprising a frame connected to the car, journals carried by the said frame directly above the rail, a shaft in said journal and having its ends extending beyond the said journal, and cutters mounted on said shaft on both sides of the journal and extending on both sides of the rail below the tread thereof, whereby the snow is cleared from both sides of the rail, substantially as described.

3. A track-cleaner comprising a forwardlyextending frame havingits rearend connected with a car, depending U -shaped brackets connected with the forward end of the frame, a transversely-arran ged cu ttor-shaft supported 'by the lower ends of the U-shaped brackets,

cutters carried by the said cutter-shaft, and an operating mechanism for the cutter-shaft, substantially as described. v

4. A track-cleaner comprising a frame connected at its rear end to a car, the said frame said frame, cutters carried bythe said shaft,

the said shaft having its ends extending beyond the outer side of the track, said cutter situated at the inner and outer side ofthe track, upwardly-extending separate chutes communicating at their lower ends with the I said cutters, each of said chutes having sepf arate independently pivotally connected swinging upper ends whereby they are adapted to be swung outward for the purpose described.

6. A track-cleaner comprising a supportin g-frame adapted to be connected with a car, a cutter carried thereby, and independent upwardly-extending forwardly and rearwardly arranged chutes in communication at their lower ends with the said cutter, substantially as described.

7. A track-cleaner comprising a cutter, an upwardly-extending chute, and a verticallymovable lower end for and connected with the said chute, and in communication with the cutter, substantially as described.

S. A track-cleaner comprising a supporting-frame,a cutter carried thereby,upwardly extending forward and rearward chutes in communication with the said cutter,thelower ends of the said chutes being vertically movable and having oppositely extending inclined lower ends to form runners for engaging the packed snow or ice, substantially as described.

9. A track-cleaner comprising a truck pivotally connected to a car and carrying cutters, operative connections between the cntters and the car-axle, al removable arm having one end within the car-coupler and an operating-lever pivoted to said arm and conof said arm, and aconnection between said lever and the outer end of the truck, substantially as described.

11. A track cleaner comprising a truck y having its rear end pivotally connected to the car and adapted to run on the rails, vertically-adjustable bearings onV said truck, a shaft mounted in said bearings, cutters carried by said shaft and adapted to engage both sides of the rail, said shaft having operative connection with the car-axle, forwardly and rearwardly extending sponts from each cutter and each chute having separate independently pivotally connected upper ends, a removable arm att-ached to the car-coupler, an operating-lever pivoted to said arm, and a flexible connection between the lever and the outer end of the truck, substantially as described.

12. A cutter for the purpose described comprising a plurality of bars arranged and connected in pairs, transversely-arranged bolts passing through the said bars and clamping them to the said shaft, the outer ends of the bars having cutting edges, substantially as described.

13. A cutter for the purpose described comprising a plurality of separate bars having their ends turned laterally in the same direction, the bars being arranged in pairs and connecting-bolts therefor situated at opposite sides of the cutter-shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD SARVER. Witnesses:

O. F. KOHLER, CHAs. A. COE. 

